Ars Technica reports that Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai wants to stop U.S. companies and organizations that receive broadband funding from the FCC from buying from Chinese technology vendors Huawei and ZTE. A 2012 Congressional report encouraged American companies to "consider the long-term security risks associated with doing business with either ZTE or Huawei for equipment or services" and to seek other sources, and a December 2017 letter to the FCC from 18 lawmakers objected to Huawei smartphones being sold by AT&T or other carriers. Both companies have ties to the Chinese government. The implication seems to be that a smartphone, or other Internet-connected device, could be set up as a spying device for the Chinese government. "Hidden ‘back doors’ to our networks in routers, switches—and virtually any other type of telecommunications equipment—can provide an avenue for hostile governments to inject viruses, launch denial-of-service attacks, steal data, and more," Pai said. The Wall Street Journal reports that many, "regional American providers of wireless, TV, and Internet services have flocked to Huawei, attracted by what they say are Huawei’s cheaper prices, quality products and attentive customer service." The FBI's Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee last month that they are "deeply concerned about the risks of allowing any company or entity that is beholden to foreign governments that don’t share our values to gain positions of power inside our telecommunications networks." Huawei and ZTE deny their products are used for spying, and the U.S. has yet to present hard evidence. The FCC can't ban the Chinese products, but can stop companies receiving money from the Universal Service Fund from working with Huawei and ZTE.